2006-01-04
Thoughts on the meaning of Wu-Wei
Wu-Wei
Copied from: forums-at-siutao.com
(and thus the words posted here are not mine)
Below are some definitions that I hastely copied from the internet using the search 'definition of wu wei', but for the most concise definition I have come across we must travel outside of philosophical Daoism to the west, in the Bhagavad-Gita:
In the Gita Krishna has this to say, not verbatim but, “It is not enough for man to abstain from action in order to liberate oneself from the act, inaction alone does not lead to perfection, for man is condemned to act." Then Krishna goes on to explain that one should fulfil the requirements of his situation yet remain unattached to the 'fruit of action'. In this way, not driven to act because one desires the outcome of the act, one is freed from karmic law, and all actions arise from tao as opposed to will.
other definitions:
wu-wei
Pronunciation: (wOO'w?'), [key]
—n.
(in philosophical Taoism) action accomplishing its purpose in accordance with the natures of things and events. Cf. yu-wei.
Wu Wei is translated as the law of "non doing".
Lao Tzu describes the action/nonaction of someone who has realized the Tao as wu-wei
But, of course, this is all just a bunch of jumbled words, the realization of what has been said comes when one ceases to act with selfish intent, which is the supreme obstacle to enlightenment.
Further Comments:
wu-wei to me is acting free of desire, to pursue the course and not the outcome. If you act without premeditation then your actions will always be suiting of the natural course of the moment. Does the bee premeditate the path he will follow as he collects pollen from the flowers, or does he simply go? To simply go is "nondoing" it is wu-wei.
Do not misunderstand my use of the word "desire". I do not mean physical desire, I mean intent. If one steps into a situation with the desire for any given outcome to occur, then this gives rise to the opportunity for disappointment. If you never desire any specific outcome of any situation then you will never be disappointed and in turn always act spontaneously and correctly according to the situation. this is the occurring function of wu wie.
The best I can do to put such a thing in to words is state its function. How many times did Li Zi say that so many things can not be put into words?
meyamind at 4:01 a.m.
